State Politics/Investigative Reporter - #1398544

The Idaho Statesman in Boise, Idaho, is looking for an audience-focused state politics and investigative reporter to join the accountability team in our award-winning newsroom in Boise, one of the fastest-growing metro areas in America.

The state politics reporter focuses on accountability journalism, serving as a fearless watchdog of state government, while also covering the annual legislative session. They will provide fast context to big breaking news stories and also be able to produce enterprise and investigative stories. This reporter is a self-starter and is also comfortable in a collaborative setting to work with other reporters and visual journalists.

The reporter must have a commitment to fairness and accuracy, in fact and in tone, and a strong grounding in journalism ethics. They must have the ability to build reader loyalty, engagement and growth around compelling public service journalism.

Join the newsroom that has competed with major national and international outlets on the University of Idaho murders case. At the Idaho Statesman, we put a premium on breaking stories first as well as investing in hard-nosed, accountability journalism that our audience can’t get anywhere else.

Our journalism focuses on our local communities, and in that role we have the ability to spotlight problems, highlight solutions and truly make a difference — all the reasons you got into journalism. And we are part of McClatchy, a digitally driven company focused on innovation, with newsrooms in 30 communities in the United States.

In recent years, our team has sparked a change in state law on restraint and seclusion in schools, produced a series of stories spotlighting the individual struggles caused by our housing crisis, and prompted the state to create a $2 billion fund for school facilities to address their disrepair. That work has resulted in numerous awards, including Idaho Press Club awards for reporter of the year, photographer of the year and sports reporter of the year for 2023 – the second straight year that we swept those awards.

We are located in Boise, Idaho, a community that lands on many best-of lists for its quality of life. Our community features unique restaurants, many opportunities for outdoor recreation and a lively arts scene.

In our state politics reporter, we’re seeking a versatile and resourceful journalist who is as skilled in public records as they are in developing sources. You’ll need a passion for accountability journalism and the curiosity to seek the missing details.

In This Role, You Will Need To

• Produce breaking news stories off the legislative session in a competitive news market
• Pitch and report enterprise accountability stories and investigations on state politics
• Work with the rest of the accountability team and visuals team to produce multimedia stories and investigations
• Focus on stories that build readership
• Build engaging multimedia storytelling skills
• Demonstrate speed, competitiveness and SEO savvy
• Work well in a team environment.
  
  

The successful candidate should meet many, though not necessarily all, of the following requirements:

• College degree preferred, or equivalent experience.
• 1-3 years of reporting experience.
• Must have reliable transportation. Must have valid driver’s license and vehicle insurance required (at least minimum insurance required for the state in which the employee works).
• Strong writing skills, excellent news judgment and a demonstrated ability to “see the story” that is going to matter to readers.
• Commitment to ethics.
• Ability to build source networks and bring a constant flow of story ideas.
• Ability to work collaboratively to aggressively tackle stories.
• Comfort with a job that will be demanding, fast-paced and constantly evolving.
• Facility with data, public records and business reports.
  
  

What we’ll bring: As a journalist at McClatchy, you will join a supportive, flexible, collaborative team. McClatchy strives to be an employer of choice, and our benefits package is made with this goal in mind. With a focus on health, well-being, wealth and daily life, our package options includes health care coverage for employees and their families, financial protection from expected and unexpected expenses, multiple no-cost wellness resources and even coverage for four-legged friends. Our overall benefit package also includes a 401(k) with employer match, competitive paid time off and corporate holidays, and a variety of mental health benefits. With an excellent support team and with focus on your well-being as a top corporate strategy, McClatchy provides benefits to support you and your family in achieving your health and wellness goals.

To apply, include a persuasive cover letter, your resume and four to six examples of your best work.

About The McClatchy Media Company

The McClatchy Media Company features a portfolio of vibrant and trusted news, lifestyle, entertainment brands and a robust retail distribution network. Our iconic local news brands such as the Miami Herald, The Kansas City Star and The Sacramento Bee, have collectively earned a total of 57 Pulitzer prizes and are complemented by popular lifestyle and entertainment brands such as Us Weekly and Woman’s World. Together, our brands reach more than 100 million unique visitors a month,The McClatchy Retail Network, our distribution and logistics arm, offers delivery to more than 56,000 retail locations weekly.